’Ria Delano, will you please marry me?’

Ria turned in astonishment as Philippe strode into the kitchen of the Delano mansion. It was almost one in the afternoon, mealtime at the sprawling Delano mansion.

With his black hair tied back, the beard neatly trimmed, in his black leather jacket and black jeans, complemented by black leather boots, he cut a stylish, impressive figure as he walked in, heading to the young woman with her golden hair in a messy bun, plump lips parted in astonishment as she saw him.

Her grey-blue eyes widened in shock.

*

The Capo was a man who followed a strict agenda. He never came home to meet her, not in the middle of the day, anyway! He respected her father way too much. And it was lunchtime. He was usually at someplace where her father saw fit to send him. What was he doing her now?

Ria had been with Beatrice and Camille in the kitchen, helping to prepare lunch, and baby Rudi was peevish, so she was carrying him on her hip, her little brother who had cereal all over his mouth and managed to look a